There’s been growing discussion of caste on campus in the US and UK, as reported cases of bias against Dalit students and staff have increased, and a number of universities have amended their policies to include caste. This briefing outlines students’ accounts, the actions some universities have taken, the situation in the UK, what is disputed, and finally the evidence on the caste-related issues at universities. Most of the accounts in this briefing are from students and civil society, and I have included counter evidence where available.
What students report in the US
Students report that there are slurs, threats, and social exclusion based on caste in US colleges (CNN, ‘Colleges and universities across the US are moving to ban caste discrimination’, January 2022). A survey published in 2016 by Equality Labs, a civil society organisation, found that 33% of Dalit students in the US reported being discriminated against in the education system (Al Jazeera, May 2021). The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace criticised that survey for using a self-selected sample (Social Realities of Indian Americans, 2021). Our post on caste in the US looks at these issues and debates.
The Carnegie report found that students of South Asian descent reported experiencing South Asian caste discrimination in US colleges. The study interviewed 105 Indian American students in ten US colleges and found that 6.5% of students in one college “personally identified” as being a victim of caste discrimination (Social Realities of Indian Americans, 2021).
Why Dalit students hide their caste
In the California State University (CSU) system, Manpreet, a student at the Sacramento campus, said she uses a different last name from the one she uses at home on her campus documents because students from other castes often taunt her using her last name and she is worried that using her real last name would enable her peers to identify her last name and thus her caste (The World, 2022). A graduate of CSU East Bay, Prem Pariyar, said peers shunned him at school, and many of his classmates wanted to remain anonymous to avoid harassment from upper-caste students (Prem Pariyar, as quoted by University World News, February 2022).
Many of the caste oppressed, including students at Brown University, said they also remain “closeted” about their identity for fear of retaliation (CNN, December 2022). They said the new policy allows students to report harm, and many students may feel comforted to come forward and report aggression now that the policy has been enacted (CNN). Our post, Who are the Dalits?, gives a background on the community, and our post, Books on Caste, includes memoirs of Dalit writers, including Yashica Dutt, who talks about being closeted.
US universities that added caste to policies
| University | Action | Add Date |
|---|---|---|
| Brandeis University | First US college to add caste as a protected characteristic. | December, 2019 |
| UC Davis | Added “caste or perceived caste.” | September, 2021 |
| Harvard Graduate Student Union | Contract protections for caste-oppressed students. | December, 2021 |
| California State University System | First University System, covering 23 campuses. | January 1, 2022 |
| Brown University | First Ivy League University to protect the wider campus community. | December, 2022 |
| Harvard University | March, 2023 | |
| Colby College | Sources state differently. | 2019 (WNG) and 2021 (Inside Higher Ed) |
Brandeis University stated they were acting proactively and not based on any Title IX cases. After hearing from South Asian students and faculty that caste discrimination was occurring, they decided to take action. Brandeis concluded caste is distinct from race, nationality and religion. (Inside Higher Ed)
Caste on campus in the UK
There is a longer paper trail in the UK. In 2010, the UK government commissioned the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) to investigate caste discrimination and harassment in employment, service provision, and education in Great Britain. The final report noted evidence of caste discrimination and harassment in education; however, the evidence was mostly confined to pupil-to-pupil bullying (NIESR). Case studies were based on review of literature and 32 in-depth interviews. NIESR noted that a survey of 130 participants was “unrepresentative” (NIESR). Our resources on caste discrimination in the UK explains the outcome of the review on the UK government’s efforts.
Most recent reports on the situation on campus is based on student accounts. One student at the University of Oxford informed The PIE News of higher-caste students attempting to undermine Dalit students, and of being told that he did not merit his place at Oxford (The PIE News, “Caste discrimination is ‘grey area’ at UK universities”). One faculty member at King’s College London told The PIE News that in the education sector, caste often works in implicit and indirect ways.
Caste-related student union and staff union resolutions
In 2023, students at SOAS proposed amending the Students’ Union Equality and Diversity policy to include caste (The Wire, “An Anti-Caste Counterculture Is Gradually Taking Root in UK Universities”). The policy change concerned only the Students’ Union and not the university (The Wire). Separately, staff at the Oxford branch of the University and College Union, also in 2023, adopted a resolution to recognize caste as a protected characteristic in the branch (The Wire). None of these changes the United Kingdom’s equalities legislation which does not recognize caste.
The limits of policies
Supporters of such policies argue that eliminating biases requires broader changes in the university system, including scholarships and other reforms (American Kahani, “Universities in the U.S. Are Finally Adding Caste to Their Non-Discrimination Policy, But Is It Enough?”). In the absence of naming caste, equality protections do not apply to the institution (Thenmozhi Soundarajan, as quoted by Multicultural Meanderings, 2022).
The disagreement
Not all people endorse these changes. The primary criticism is that the anti-caste rules target Hindus and South Asians. It is argued that the existing rules address the issue of caste-based harassment. Two Hindu professors challenged the CSU policy and the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of CSU because the professors did not show how they were injured by the CSU anti-caste policies (Meyers Nave, 2025). See our post about caste discrimination in Silicon Valley for the same issue in the tech industry. Generally, all people agree that harassment of any type should not be condoned, and the discussion revolves around naming caste.
Where to get help
Generally, students would report issues related to caste discrimination through their institution’s procedure, and an institution’s policy determines who can use it. Staff members can use the workplace procedures in our guide to filing a caste discrimination complaint, which is about employment only. (For people documenting their own experiences, skills in blogging, A.I. tools and email marketing are essential. The Ambedkarite Educational Program was created to teach these skills.)
Takeaway
The situation with caste on campus has moved from a hidden issue to a policy issue. In the U.S., Brandeis (2019) and UC Davis, the Cal State system (2022) and Brown (2022) named caste. Some students say they hide their last names and/or caste. In the U.K., a 2010 government report found evidence in the education system, and more recent changes are happening at the student union level. The surveys are controversial, and critics say that the rules impact Hindus the most, so the debate continues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there caste discrimination in universities?
Dalit students in the US and UK report slurs, exclusion and bias, and a 2016 survey found that one-third of Dalit students in the US said they had been discriminated against. The Carnegie Endowment criticised that survey’s method, so the scale is disputed.
Which universities ban caste discrimination?
In the US, Brandeis (2019), UC Davis (2021), the California State University system (2022) and Brown (2022) have added caste to their policies. Harvard added it for graduate student workers in 2021 and to its institutional policy in 2023.
Why do Dalit students hide their caste?
Students say they fear being shunned or harassed, and some use a different surname. A student at Cal State Sacramento said she used a fake last name because her real one would reveal her caste.
Do UK universities have caste policies?
The SOAS Students’ Union added caste to its equality policy in 2023, and the Oxford branch of the University and College Union passed a resolution. UK equality law does not name caste.
Where can I report caste bias at university?
Usually through your university’s own complaints procedure. Whether caste is covered depends on its policy. Staff can also use the workplace routes in our complaint guide, and legal advice is recommended.
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SOURCES
- CNN, “Colleges and universities across the US are moving to ban caste discrimination,” January 30, 2022
- CNN, “Brown University bans caste discrimination throughout campus,” December 2022
- Inside Higher Ed, “University adds caste to nondiscrimination policy,” December 2019
- Inside Higher Ed, “Cal State System Bans Caste-Based Discrimination,” January 2022
- The World (PRX), “‘Hidden discrimination’,” March 2022
- University World News, “Caste has become a university diversity issue in the US,” February 2022
- American Kahani, “Universities in the U.S. are Finally Adding Caste to Their Non-discrimination Policy, But Is It Enough?”
- WNG, “American universities offer protection from caste discrimination”
- Multicultural Meanderings, 2022
- Al Jazeera, May 2021
- NIESR / GOV.UK, Caste discrimination and harassment in Great Britain, 2010
- The PIE News, “Caste discrimination is ‘grey area’ at UK universities”
- The Wire, “An Anti-Caste Counterculture Is Gradually Taking Root in UK Universities”
- Meyers Nave, Ninth Circuit ruling on CSU policy
- Carnegie Endowment, 2025
